Region-specific emission factors for Brazil increase the estimate of nitrous oxide emissions from nitrogen fertiliser applications by 21%

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Mazzetto, A. M., Styles, D., Gibbons, J., Arndt, C., Misselbrook, T. H. and Chadwick, D. 2020. Region-specific emission factors for Brazil increase the estimate of nitrous oxide emissions from nitrogen fertiliser applications by 21%. Atmospheric Environment. 230, p. 117506. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117506

AuthorsMazzetto, A. M., Styles, D., Gibbons, J., Arndt, C., Misselbrook, T. H. and Chadwick, D.
Abstract

The use of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers is one of the most important land management practices proposed to improve crop and pasture productivity. The use of such fertilisers in excess can lead to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, linked to climate change, as well as ammonia (NH3) emissions, linked to eutrophication and soil acidification.. This context is especially important in Brazil, which is responsible for a significant share of the food produced in the world. To assess the impact of the use of nitrogen fertilisers, we conducted a structured review of Brazilian studies on the emission of nitrous oxide (N2O; 11 studies) and ammonia volatilisation (NH3; 13 studies) from nitrogen fertiliser application. The current emission factors (EF) suggested by the IPCC for N2O and NH3 (1 and 11%, respectively) are lower than the mean values we found in our review (1.12 and 19%, respectively). Our results showed that non-urea fertilisers (ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulphate) had a lower emission factor (EF) for N2O (1.07 and 0.60%, respectively) and NH3 (3.17 and 14%, respectively) in comparison with urea. The use of nitrification and urease inhibitors resulted in a reduction of the EFs of N2O (74% lower) and NH3 (43% lower) when compared with the Urea EF. Urea is the most common fertiliser used in Brazil, and the change for non-urea fertilisers or the use of inhibitors could lead to a reduction of 23% in the total N2O inventory. The use of the new region-specific EFs results in an increase of 21% in the final N2O emission inventory.

KeywordsNitrous oxide; Emission factor; Brazil; Ammonia; Synthetic fertiliser
Year of Publication2020
JournalAtmospheric Environment
Journal citation230, p. 117506
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117506
Open accessPublished as non-open access
FunderGlobal Challenges Research Fund (UKRI)
Funder project or codeSustainable futures for the Costa Rica dairy sector: optimising environmental and economic outcomes
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online13 Apr 2020
Publication process dates
Accepted10 Apr 2020
PublisherElsevier
ISSN1352-2310

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